I remember when I was about ten or so and having rented Maniac Mansion for the first time. I hated it because I couldn't figure out how to do anything. The command/graphics game play was totally alien to me. And like an impatient kid, I wouldn't bother reading the accompanying booklet. But, things worked themselves out, and Maniac Mansion soon became one of my favorite video games ever.
Maniac Mansion was produced by Lucas Arts for Nintendo. The game was such a great idea and so much fun to play. The story goes like this...
20 years ago today a meteor crashed into the backyard of the Edison family. There's Dr. Fred, his wife Nurse Edna, their son Wierd Ed, Dead Cousin Ted, purple and green tentacle, and of course, the meteor. The meteor is an life form which has hypnotized Dr. Fred into carrying out an evil plot against humanity. For some reason, it all starts with a young blonde cheerleader named Sandy.
Dave is the hero of the game and the valliant (yet sometimes dimwitted)boyfriend of Sandy. Of six friends with various skills, you select two to accompany Dave. Jeff is the light-hearted surfer with no real skills; Sid and Razor are musicians; Bernard is the super nerd who's good with mechanics; Wendy is the aspiring journalist; and Michael is the photographer. So, the simple goal is to get Dave and his two friends through the mansion to rescue Sandy. But it is no simple task, and likewise no simple story, as the plot becomes more intricate based on some of your decisions of how to go about the game. And they usually make pretty funny finales.
Not only were the graphics fantastic (for it's day, afterall it was only 1988), but each character got his own soundtrack which can be heard on the CD player they carried around. Even the villians had cool music.
Now, if you loved Maniac Mansion, I highly recommend the sequel, Day of the Tentacle, which was produced (I think) soley for PC. In that game, you play Bernard and two new friends. And you're involved with the Edisons again, except this time, in a time travelling adventure. Though I will always like the first one best, it is also one of the greatest games ever made.
Maniac Mansion was produced by Lucas Arts for Nintendo. The game was such a great idea and so much fun to play. The story goes like this...
20 years ago today a meteor crashed into the backyard of the Edison family. There's Dr. Fred, his wife Nurse Edna, their son Wierd Ed, Dead Cousin Ted, purple and green tentacle, and of course, the meteor. The meteor is an life form which has hypnotized Dr. Fred into carrying out an evil plot against humanity. For some reason, it all starts with a young blonde cheerleader named Sandy.
Dave is the hero of the game and the valliant (yet sometimes dimwitted)boyfriend of Sandy. Of six friends with various skills, you select two to accompany Dave. Jeff is the light-hearted surfer with no real skills; Sid and Razor are musicians; Bernard is the super nerd who's good with mechanics; Wendy is the aspiring journalist; and Michael is the photographer. So, the simple goal is to get Dave and his two friends through the mansion to rescue Sandy. But it is no simple task, and likewise no simple story, as the plot becomes more intricate based on some of your decisions of how to go about the game. And they usually make pretty funny finales.
Not only were the graphics fantastic (for it's day, afterall it was only 1988), but each character got his own soundtrack which can be heard on the CD player they carried around. Even the villians had cool music.
Now, if you loved Maniac Mansion, I highly recommend the sequel, Day of the Tentacle, which was produced (I think) soley for PC. In that game, you play Bernard and two new friends. And you're involved with the Edisons again, except this time, in a time travelling adventure. Though I will always like the first one best, it is also one of the greatest games ever made.